Going to see Jurassic World? Know your dinosaurs first!

Can’t tell your velociraptor from dimorphodons? Fear not. Of the 17 varieties of dinosaurs scampering around in Jurassic World, these are the ones you should look out for in the film. Apatosaurus These guys show up quite late in the film because by the time Jurassic World opens, the dinosaurs need to be “cooler” than the originals. The apatosaurus is among the first victims of Indominus Rex’s rage. Stegosaurus and Triceratops These two horned species were big favourites when the Jurassic Park franchise began. We see baby triceratops being saddled up to give rides to kids in Jurassic World. Later in the film, two of the characters go for a futuristic safari and encounter a herd of stegosaurus. [caption id=“attachment_2294070” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Image from youtube.[/caption] Gallimimus These look a bit like ostriches with tails and sharp teeth. Back in their day, however, the gallimimus were speedy predators. They’re seen scampering around a green field while a safari jeep full of humans gaze at them in awe. Mosasaur This one’s possibly the most spectacular of the lot in Jurassic World. The mosasaurs were giant, underwater species that technically weren’t dinosaurs since they evolved into being when dinosaurs were entering their twilight era. But hey, let’s not be pedantic. They’re large, have many teeth and make the Jaws shark look puny – which is good enough for Jurassic World. Pteranodons and Dimorphodons These are the dinosaurs we see taking to the skies. The pteranodons have pointy beaks like a swordfish’s snout. The dimorphodons have regular, dino faces with beady eyes and jagged teeth. There’s one sequence in which a British assistant becomes a human volleyball for a couple of pteranodons. Velociraptors Remember these bloodthirsty scuttlers from Jurassic Park? They’ve got a bit of a makeover so that they don’t look quite as beady-eyed as they did back then. Now they’re jewel-eyed, but no less bloodthirsty. They’re also the closest thing to man’s best friend in Jurassic World. Indominus Rex We’re told that there are new dinosaurs that are being created and Indominus Rex is one such manufactured species. We’re never told exactly what’s in her genetic cocktail, but there is some raptor DNA twirling around in there. Indominus Rex also has opposable thumbs, which is not a pleasant thought.